FAU Edges ODU 8-7

NORFOLK, VA—Esteban Puerta’s RBI single brought home CJ Chatham in the eighth to brake-up a 7-7 tie and give the Florida Atlantic Owls (24-22/12-14) an 8-7 C-USA victory over Old Dominion (27-20/13-13) Saturday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.

ODU had nine hits led by Taylor Ostrich and Josh Eldridge with two each. Ben Slaton and Chris Livers both knocked in two runs for the Monarchs. Eldridge has four hits in nine at bats thus far in the series.

ODU took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run double by sophomore catcher Chris Livers which scored Brett Harris and Josh Eldridge.

After being held scoreless for four innings, FAU exploded for seven runs in the fifth inning. Chatham , Mitch Morales,Stephen Kerr, Ricky Santiago (2),Brendon Sanger and Tyler Rocklein all drove in runs for the Owls in that frame to give them a 7-2 lead.

ODU rallied with three runs in the bottom of the fifth when Taylor Ostrich singled home Nick Walker and later in the inning Josiah Burney and Ben Slaton each had sacrifice fly RBI’s to bring home a run and cut the FAU lead to two at 7-5.

In the seventh inning, Nick Walker led off with a single followed by a hit from Taylor Ostrich. PJ Higgins groundout plated Walker from third and Ben Slaton doubled down the rightfield line with two outs to bring home Ostrich with the tying run.

CJ Chatham led off the FAU eighth with a single and was sacrificed to second, where Puerta singled to left to bring him home and give FAU the lead, 8-7.

The Owls reliever Kevin Alexander came on in the eighth, fanning three and allowing only one Monarch to reach base as he picked up his fifth save of the season and Bo Logan got the win (4-1).

CJ Chatham led FAU with three hits after having two hits Friday night, while Stephen Kerr had two hits to go with his three from last night. FAU pounded out 13 hits on the day.

The third and final game of the series is Sunday at 1:05 p.m. at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.